Elstree Studios, September 24, 2017

Stars of iconic shows made at Elstree Studios in the 1960s and 1970s gathered in the legendary Studio 9 as the final event of Elstree Studios’ 90th anniversary celebrations. Nick Joy was among the audience.

It must have been a strange sensation for Dame Diana Rigg entering Studio 9 again, as this is where she filmed her final scenes as Emma Peel in The Avengers in 1967. Indeed, looking at the way the 7.5k sq ft studio had been dressed for the gala event (though there was no sign of the 9 foot water tank), it was hard to imagine it as the place where films like Star Wars and The Shining had been made.

With a red London bus to the left and Simon Templar’s original Volvo P1800 coupe (which has been beautifully restored) to the right, the stage was set in-between. The event’s host, Studios Chairman Morris Bright, was a great showman and interviewed the guests during the evening. Those present as VIPs, but not interviewed on stage included Dave Prowse (Star Wars), Peggy Cummins, Derek Fowlds and director John Hough.

The first panel focused on memories of Elstree, and featured Giles Watling (Gideon’s Way, and the brother of Debbie Watling), Valerie Leon (The Saint, The Avengers) and William Gaunt (The Champions). Valerie shared her initial contracts for her appearances in The Saint and Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased) from which she respectively received the princely sums of £15 and £22. The Avengers earned her £50 and then she won the lead in Hammer’s Blood from the Mummy’s Tomb and things really took off.

Giles recalled being a child actor at the Studios and arriving on a day that The Beatles were due – the screaming fans were disappointed when it was just him stepping out of the car. William Gaunt had fond memories of recording The Champions and having a reunion in Hollywood 40 years later for the series’ boxset release. Possibly the best anecdote of the evening was of Bette Davis, who was appearing in The Anniversary. On July 4th 1967 she appeared in the commissary wearing an American flag – “I thought I’d remind you limey bastards what day it is!” she allegedly snarled.

The next panel remembered Roger Moore, after the screening of exclusive footage of the man himself, who had been aware of this event and had planned to attend, but this sadly was not to be. As well as filming The Saint here, Moore also filmed motion picture The Man Who Haunted Himself. The panel comprised Derren Nesbitt (The Prisoner, The Saint), Angela Douglas (The Saint, The Avengers, Jason King) and  Norman Eshley (Department S, Return of The Saint).

Derren recalled Roger once telling him: “I’m very tall. I’m suave. I’m good-looking…. One day they’re going to find out I can’t f***ing act.” Norman Eshley apologised that his anecdote was slightly negative – Roger had cut Norman’s final scene in Cross-plot because he didn’t want that character to get the girl – and Angela Douglas recalled a time that Roger had invited her back to his room at lunchtime… to share ham sandwiches and listen as he read out his fan mail!

The final interview was with Dame Diana Rigg, who filmed two seasons of The Avengers in this studio as Emma Peel, and continues to be a world-renowned actress, not least for her wonderful performance as the Queen of Thorns in Game of Thrones. Diana confessed that she doesn’t often do events like this – “I’m not a red carpet person” – but was delighted to be here. She recalled her working relationship with co-star Patrick Macnee: “Pat was really lovely to me, because I was relatively inexperienced. The warmth of the relationship between us was absolutely real.”

On leaving the role of Emma Peel, she confessed: “I had to turn my back on her as an  actress. In a sense I was disloyal in order to develop.” And it was her choice to go. “I didn’t have anything to go to, but he (Macnee) accepted that it was time to go.” On being back on the soundstage where she’d worked, she recalled: “The sets weren’t rickety, but Patty (Macnee) and I were rewriting the scripts regularly… the producers let us!”

Dame Diana recalled filming at the same time as the movie One Million Years BC, and that she was thrilled to see Raquel Welch across the corridor wearing “bits of rabbit fluff”. She also remembers meeting Hollywood royalty: “Bette Davis was singularly unimpressed in meeting me!” And finally, what about those figure-hugging outfits? “Oh God, everybody remembers the leather suits!” she mock groaned. “It took 3/4 of an hour to go the lavatory.”

Before leaving the stage, a numbered, limited edition of the history of the Studios was presented to Dame Diana by MD Roger Morris.

After a break, we were treated to a set by the BBC Elstree Concert Band, the programme all being themes or music from shows and films made at the studio. Medleys from The Saint and The Avengers went down a storm, as did The Muppet Show and Superman (The Quest for Peace was made there).

The old MGM Borehamwood Studios may be long gone, and without the determination of a strong few, Elstree might have followed suit. But they’re still standing, and that’s something to be proud of, as celebrated in this series of events. Sadly, fewer of the originals will be around to raise a toast, but I’ll be first in line for the centenary bash.